Pulmonary hypertension (PH) refers to a condition in which there is high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries. These arteries carry blood from the heart to the lungs to retrieve oxygen. Patients suffering from PH may experience shortness of breath even during normal activity levels, rapid heartbeat, tiredness and chest pain. The condition develops when arteries become blocked by blood clots or a growth of cells, or when arterial walls become constricted. PH can cause heart failure if not treated. Though there is no cure, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, there are several medications available that can help to reduce the hypertension and relieve symptoms.
Vasodilators
Vasodilators are medications that relax the walls of the blood vessels, allowing the blood to flow more easily and reducing blood pressure. The most common vasodilator prescribed for pulmonary hypertension, according to the Mayo Clinic, is epoprostenol. Although effective in relieving pulmonary hypertension, epoprostenol is not an ideal treatment because its effects last for only minutes. This drug must be continually injected using a pump connected to a catheter.
Other vasodilators drugs include iloprost, which is inhaled using a nebulizer, and nesiritide or nitroglycerin, which are oral medications. Vasodilator drugs can cause a drastic drop in blood pressure and fainting.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blocker medications are prescribed to treat chest pain, irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure. Not all patients with pulmonary hypertension respond to calcium channel blockers, but many do.
Calcium triggers muscles to contract, making it important to the normal beating of the heart. When there is too much calcium present, however, the muscles contract too hard or too often creating tension that can lead to tightening of the arteries. Calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine, diltiazem and nifedipine, work to decrease the amount of calcium, relaxing the muscles and the walls of the arteries and reducing blood pressure.
Anticoagulants
Pulmonary hypertension can be caused by the pulmonary arteries being partially blocked by blood clots. Administering anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin can prevent the formation of blood clots and therefore reduce further hypertension. Taking blood thinners such as warfarin can increase your risk of bleeding complications.
Diuretics
Diuretics such as furosemide are drugs that eliminate excess fluid from the body. By reducing the amount of fluid, the volume of blood that needs to be pumped throughout the body decreases, relieving added stress on the heart. Removing excess fluid also reduces swelling which makes breathing easier, increasing oxygen levels in the blood.
